2001, summer (approximate date). Marianao, stone bridge. Time uncertain.
They wait for a taxi at the end of a stone bridge in Marianao. He tries to make conversation. Conversation, not plática. Tony answers in monosyllables and the silences begin to grow, so he stops trying.
Then he does something worse.
He remembers.
I miss him in New York.
That surprises him because now he is beside him and seems farther away than when he was not there. For several months, on Riverside Drive, he imagined him often. Outside it was snowing. The apartment windows would fog up and he would think how pleasant it would be to have Tony there with him, put on some music, make thick, very hot chocolate, watch the snow fall over Sakura Park and ask him anything.
What might Tony be doing?
Now he can answer him.
Probably helping his stepfather with the carburetor of a 1950 Ford while the chickens chase one another around.
The real answer is almost always better than the imagined one.
2001, summer (approximate date). Marianao, stone bridge. Time uncertain.
They wait for a taxi at the end of a stone bridge in Marianao. He tries to make conversation. Conversation, not plática. Tony answers in monosyllables and the silences begin to grow, so he stops trying.
Then he does something worse.
He remembers.
I miss him in New York.
That surprises him because now he is beside him and seems farther away than when he was not there. For several months, on Riverside Drive, he imagined him often. Outside it was snowing. The apartment windows would fog up and he would think how pleasant it would be to have Tony there with him, put on some music, make thick, very hot chocolate, watch the snow fall over Sakura Park and ask him anything.
What might Tony be doing?
Now he can answer him.
Probably helping his stepfather with the carburetor of a 1950 Ford while the chickens chase one another around.
The real answer is almost always better than the imagined one.
2001, verano (fecha aproximada). Marianao, puente de piedra. Hora incierta.
Esperan un taxi al final de un puente de piedra, en Marianao. Intenta hacer conversación. Conversación, no plática. Tony contesta con monosílabos y los silencios empiezan a hacerse grandes, así que deja de insistir.
Entonces hace algo peor.
Recuerda.
Lo extraño en Nueva York.
Eso lo sorprende porque ahora está junto a él y parece más lejano que cuando no estaba. Durante algunos meses, en Riverside Drive, lo imaginó muchas veces. Afuera nevaba. Las ventanas del departamento se llenaban de vaho y él pensaba que sería agradable tener al Tony con él, poner música, preparar chocolate espeso, muy caliente, mirar caer la nieve sobre Sakura Park y preguntarle cualquier cosa.
¿Qué estará haciendo Tony?
Ahora puede contestarle.
Probablemente ayudando a su padrastro con el carburador de un Ford de 1950 mientras las gallinas se persiguen alrededor.
La respuesta real es casi siempre mejor que la imaginada.